2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Sedan

　　

2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　Are you a member of the sport-compact-car faithful and seeking a fun four-door sedan that won't break your budget? The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is one of the few that remain available, though in some ways it is a shadow of its former self.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$153/mo  for Jetta GLI Autobahn

　　Jetta GLI Autobahn

　　Autobahn 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $31,585 MSRPAutobahn 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) (Most Popular) - $32,385 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Volkswagen bases the GLI on the current-generation Jetta, which means, unlike in the past, it is completely unrelated to the hotter Golf GTI. Nevertheless, VW fits the Jetta GLI with a more powerful turbocharged engine, a limited-slip differential to enhance traction when accelerating, a sport-tuned adaptive suspension and larger brakes. The GLI also swaps the Jetta's torsion-beam rear suspension for a more sophisticated multi-link setup that improves the car's cornering stability. The result is a decent choice for people who don't want to drive a regular compact sedan and prefer something that packs extra power and is sporty-looking and more fun to drive.

　　After a freshening for the 2022 model year, the 2023 Jetta GLI carries on without changes. However, VW is rolling out a complimentary five-year subscription to Car-Net Safe & Secure connected services, which should be active by the summer of 2023. The sport sedan comes in a single trim level with a handful of options, but Volkswagen's approach also makes the GLI more expensive than several rivals.

　　Still, the VW Jetta GLI slots into a gap in the sport compact sedan market. It offers more power and equipment than alternatives like the Honda Civic Si and Kia Forte GT, and it provides value compared to similarly equipped but more sporting competitors such as the Hyundai Elantra N and Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo. With its generous passenger room, large trunk, stealthy looks and German driving dynamics, you may find the Jetta GLI just right. Learn more by reading the full zzdcar Expert Rating below.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Jetta GLI drive? The GLI is heavier and less powerful than VW's GTI, as well as sedans like the Hyundai Elantra N, Subaru WRX and Honda Civic Si. The GLI's 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds sits near the bottom of the class, too, and that's with the quick-shifting dual-clutch automatic. Manual-equipped models will be even slower. The transmission can be lazy to downshift to pass on the street or highway. We used the shift paddles more than usual. Braking is not up to the standards set by some of the class leaders. The brake pedal required more effort than we would like and the brakes faded more quickly compared to other sport sedans.

　　One of the main causes for poor braking figures is the standard all-season tires. These tires hurt handling and steering too. Neither is bad. The steering is quick and weighted well, but it lacks feedback. The standard adaptive dampers do an effective job of controlling body roll, but the tires give up before the chassis reaches its limit. They simply don't have the grip of summer tires, even with the standard electronic limited-slip differential managing traction.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Jetta GLI? The GLI is one of the more refined sport compacts on the market. Its adaptive dampers do a lot of the work here. There's a distinct difference between the Sport and Comfort suspension, though even the stiffest setting won't break your back. The well-padded seats help too. There's not a ton of adjustment, but they provide plenty of lateral support. They have a sporty shape that doesn't feel too confining. The GLI is quiet on the road, with only a mild amount of wind noise on the highway. The exhaust has a bit of a growl, but it doesn't roar as loudly as other compacts.

　　The climate control system is fairly straightforward, with dedicated buttons and knobs for temperature, fan adjustment and more. The controls are mounted a bit low on the center stack, but they're still easy to reach. The standard heated and cooled seats work well, and the automatic climate control operates quickly and evenly without being overly loud. Unfortunately, the GLI doesn't have vents for rear occupants, a bit of an oversight in a modern sedan.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below